Nevada High Court to Clarify Medical Marijuana Law

The Nevada Supreme Court is expected to clarify the state’s medical marijuana law this summer, following two contradictory rulings that have lawmakers pushing for some guidance on how the drug should be made available to patients, according to the Las Vegas Sun.

The state is one of 17, along with the District of Columbia, that have medical marijuana laws on the books. However, Nevada’s law doesn’t allow marijuana to be sold through dispensaries or private dealers, meaning people who want the drug must grow it themselves, which critics say is too hard to do.

Nevada lower court rulings on cases involving dispensaries are adding to the confusion. One judge allowed a drug trafficking case brought against a marijuana dispensary that was opened to move forward, while another threw out a similar case.

State lawmakers, meanwhile, say the legislature — not the courts — will ultimately decide if dispensaries should be allowed to remain open.

“The people in Nevada have voted to legalize the use,” said Democratic Assemblyman Paul Aizley. “Let’s see if we can set up a system to provide it just the way we can get any other type of legal prescription drugs. The way we’re doing it now just doesn’t make sense.”

Earlier this year, some of the state’s top Republicans, including state GOP Chairman Michael McDonald, said they’re exploring whether marijuana should be legalized.

Medical marijuana licensing brings in about $525,000 a year to the state through the purchase of yearly marijuana cards at $150 each. If more dispensaries are available, supporters say, more people will get cards and boost state revenues.